This is Jack Wellshttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com
Discussing tomorrow's footballing issues, today.Sun, 18 Feb 2018 04:41:06 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngThis is Jack Wellshttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com
Angel Rangel: 300 not outhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/angel-rangel-300-not-out/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/angel-rangel-300-not-out/#respondThu, 15 Oct 2015 10:55:18 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=352Swansea’s adopted Welshman Angel Rangel speaks to Jack Magazine about his past, present and future as he prepares to make his 300th appearance for the Swans against Leicester City this afternoon.

When Angel Rangel joined Swansea City in 2007, he couldn’t have possibly imagined how different life might be seven years on.

As the Spanish right-back prepares to make his 300th appearance in all competitions for the Swans against Leicester City this afternoon, he has plenty to show for his time in South Wales.

Not only a fully-fledged Premier League player, a Capital One Cup winner and a key component in Swansea’s remarkable journey to the top, but he married a Welsh girl – whom he has three children with – and has built a house in his adopted city.

It’s safe to say that the man from Sant Carles de la Rapita, a small town in Catalonia, has found a home in South Wales.

“I came here to play football and didn’t expect to come here to get married and become a Welshman, but it has kind of happened that way,” smiles Rangel as he sits down for an exclusive chat with Jack Magazine.

“I feel at home. It’s different to Spain, but when you are in a place where the people are very friendly, the fans love you and are passionate about their football, it’s easy to settle down.

“Now I have a family here and a house in the city – I couldn’t ask for more.”

Arriving from Spanish Segunda B outfit Terrassa a single man, it didn’t take long for Rangel’s life to change off the field.

On an opportune shopping trip in Cardiff over six years ago, the adopted Welshman got more than he bargained for when he met his wife-to-be as he paid for a jumper in a departmental store.

“I met her in House of Fraser in Cardiff when she was working there,” he says.

“I was buying a jumper, and she was asking me questions about what I did for a living and things like that.

“She didn’t know who I was, but I left her my number, and we started having a few dates before it got more serious.

“Six years later, we have three kids and are married and have a house. It’s a good story, and I am really happy.”

Having grown up in Swansea, Rangel’s children have even developed Welsh accents.

“My wife’s family is Welsh, so my children can speak a bit of Welsh as well as Spanish,” adds the 31-year-old. “They have Welsh accents, especially the little one.

“I can speak a little bit of Welsh too – numbers and different phrases. Dai, who helps out at the training ground, always speaks to me in Welsh, so I pick it up a little bit.

“I think it all shows that I hope my future will be with Swansea for a long time – on and off the pitch.

“I feel really happy and proud to be a part of Swansea. And my family is very happy here, which is the most important thing.”

It’s not just off the field that Rangel has experienced vast changes during his time in Swansea.

When Roberto Martinez brought him to SA1, the Swans were in League One, with the glamour of the Premier League just a distant dream.

An exclusive club training ground was non-existent, showering after training took place alongside the general public, and kit was taken home by the players themselves to be washed and cleaned.

“When I first came, we didn’t have the facilities we do now,” Rangel recalls. “It was a completely different environment.

“My first day was actually here at Fairwood, but there wasn’t even a football pitch. It was just a field full of mud, and I remember it was raining hard.

“My first training session was strange; it was very different to what it is now.

“We were trying to be as professional as we could. We were cleaning our own training kit and boots until we were promoted and things started to change a bit.

“It’s taken a few years, but we are proud we are here now.”
Rangel epitomises the humility that has helped the Swans reach the dizzy heights of the Premier League and all of the success that has followed.

But while the full-back has witnessed many comings and goings during his stay in SA1, he insists the core of the club remains the same.

“A lot of the people who were at the club then are still here now, and they haven’t changed,” he adds.

“They’re all still honest, humble and hardworking people. This is one of the key reasons to why we are where we are today.”

Another mainstay over the years gone by is Rangel’s ever-presence in the Swansea back line.

Into his eighth season with the club and his fourth in the Premier League, the Spaniard still feels on top of his game under the management of his former team-mate Garry Monk.

“He communicates with every single player to make sure the winning mentality is in every single one of us,” adds Rangel.

“He gets the best out of all of us. You can see in the performances that we are going back to the days where we were dominating games, pressing our opponents and playing exciting football.

“His advantage is that he has played with a few of us, so he knows what we can give to the team.

“He knows how we succeeded before when under Brendan we reached the Premier League. He’s a young manager but he has a great future.”

And, once his playing days are over, does emulating Monk’s transition from player to manager interest him?

“It’s difficult to talk about the future, but it would be a dream to manage a team that has given me so much,” admits Rangel. “I’ve done my badges, so it’s something I would consider.

“I have been in football for a long time now, but when my playing career is over, it would be great to go into coaching.

“It would be fantastic, but I am focusing on my playing career at the moment. We will see what the future brings.”

Given his remarkable rise to prominence, Rangel surely has a bright future in Swansea both on and off the pitch, but the gaffer need not worry about his job just yet!

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/angel-rangel-300-not-out/feed/0atn_191014_stoke_v_swansea_46jackwellsukHard work is key in Wayne’s Worldhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/hard-work-is-key-in-waynes-world/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/hard-work-is-key-in-waynes-world/#respondTue, 29 Sep 2015 10:49:49 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=349Swansea’s flying winger Wayne Routledge explains to Jack Magazine why there’s no time to sit back and relax after signing a new Swans deal and why he has high hopes for the 2014-15 campaign.

Despite finding a home in Swansea, Wayne Routledge insists he won’t be resting on his laurels in SA1.

Since arriving in South West Wales from this afternoon’s opponents Newcastle United in June 2011, the flying winger has proved an integral part of the Swans’ success in recent seasons.

After playing a significant role in the club’s Capital One Cup triumph in 2013, the 29-year-old was one of Swansea’s leading performers last season and has continued that fine form into 2014-15.

Now, after putting pen-to-paper on a one-year contract extension last week, Routledge is eager to keep up the hard work to ensure he remains a mainstay in Garry Monk’s starting line-up.

“It was a simple decision for me,” said Routledge, who has committed his future to the club until the summer of 2018. “Once I found out about the option to extend, it was a no-brainer.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person and as a footballer since I’ve been here, and I think I’ve progressed with the more games I play.

“Here, you have to be on the ball. And if you’re not performing up to standard then there’s always someone that can come in and do the job.

“We have a lot of players that aren’t involved as much as they would like, but they are more than capable of playing in the starting line-up. It’s up to you to keep the shirt.

“You have to be prepared to work, put the hard yards in and play the type of football the fans here are accustomed to.

“Everyone here has to be willing to work hard. We are footballers and we are all talented, but talent is nothing without the hard work.

“Football is a game where if you stop learning then you will stop enjoying and improving yourself.

“The harder you are prepared to work, the better results you get. That’s what we are seeing now.”

Having started his professional career with Crystal Palace 13 years ago, making his senior debut at the age of just 16, Routledge has a long list of former clubs.

After coming through the ranks at Selhurst Park he moved to Tottenham in 2005, prior to switching to Aston Villa three years later following loan spells with Fulham and Portsmouth.

The 12-time England Under-21 international also spent a brief loan stint at Cardiff City in late 2008 before moving to Queens Park Rangers in January 2009.

He then completed a move to Newcastle in 2010, prior to joining the Swans a year later.

And after three successful seasons in SA1, Routledge feels settled in South West Wales, having clocked up 85 league starts for the club – the most he has ever achieved at any single club throughout his career.

“I wish I had found a club like this a few years earlier because what it can do for your game is amazing,” he added.

“It gives you confidence and belief that you play the way the game should be played, in my opinion.

“I came here when the club had just got into the Premier League and it’s been a great journey so far.

“We’ve grown and grown, and I still think we are growing.

“I’m happy to have this extra year at a club that I feel is on the up and is going places.

“We have two brilliant new training facilities, a lovely stadium and a manager and team of staff that is prepared to put in a lot of hard work and effort to get us to where we all want to be.

“It’s the whole package, and it’s a good fit.”

So far this season, the former Crystal Palace trainee has featured in all six of Swansea’s Barclays Premier League fixtures, while his stunning right-footed volley in the Swans’ 3-0 home victory over West Brom in August was nominated for goal of the month.

Labelled ‘Mr. Consistent’ by his manager Garry Monk, Routledge’s new deal is just rewards for the winger’s contribution, according to the Swans boss.

“He deserves it because in my time here he’s probably been our most consistent performer – and he’s still performing,” said Monk.

“His time before coming here was well documented but he’s now found a home, somewhere he can be himself.”

And while Routledge may have found himself a home in South West Wales, Swansea City are growing ever more accustomed to life in the Premier League as they enjoy their fourth season in the top tier.

“It’s matured a lot here,” added the Sidcup-born winger. “We came into the Premier League with the ethos that we wanted to pass the ball – and nothing has changed in that respect.

“But now we have a different tempo with a slightly different style, and I think we have more of a cutting edge.

“We worked very hard in pre-season with what Garry wants us to do this year, and I feel we have applied that on the pitch.

“The manager knows the players well so he knows exactly how to deal with each individual player.

“But with the staff and players we have here, everyone knows what is expected of them because that is explained clearly.

“We had a great start with three straight wins, but it didn’t come as a surprise in our changing room.

“There’s a lot of potential here, and I believe it’s all about how far we want to take it.

“Everyone is together. A team that works together and pushes itself to the limit will get the best results.”

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/hard-work-is-key-in-waynes-world/feed/0Barclays Premier League Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur at the Liberty StadiumjackwellsukDiplomatic Ash and his new style of captaincyhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/ashley-williams/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/ashley-williams/#respondWed, 16 Sep 2015 10:46:38 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=343Swans skipper Ashley Williams speaks to Jack Magazine about his new style of captaincy and the inspiration behind it.

KEEPING positive and thinking diplomatically is the new mantra of choice for Swansea City captain Ashley Williams.

With the help of new performance psychologist Ian Mitchell and taking inspiration from one of his idols – American football legend Ray Lewis – the club and country skipper has led the Swans to a flying start to the Barclays Premier League campaign.

Despite last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at Chelsea, Garry Monk’s side currently sit third in the top-flight after a historic opening-day victory over Manchester United and home wins over Burnley and West Brom.

And while keeping true to his values, Williams admits that he has tweaked his methods to get the very best out of his team-mates.

“I’ve tried to change a little bit this year,” the Wales international admits to Jack Magazine.

“It’s something that I’ve been working on in pre-season, speaking to Mitch [Ian Mitchell] and the gaffer to try and be a better leader.

“Normally, I’m a very vocal captain and quite aggressive, which probably reflects the way I play and the way I am on the pitch.

“But this year I’ve tried to look at it a bit more diplomatically. I realise you can’t treat all players exactly the same – different players thrive off of a different way of leadership.

“I try and find out what works for my team-mates to get the very best out of them.

“I’m still vocal, and I always will be. However, I want to stay positive throughout the game, so that I can send the right message to the group.”

So far for Garry Monk’s men, that message seems to be doing the trick.

Having enjoyed their best start to a season since 1923, the Swans have earned plenty of plaudits, with Williams playing a colossal role in the club’s promising beginning to 2014-15.

“I look at what other leaders do and try to take what I feel are positives from their style,” says Williams.

“I’m a big fan of an NFL player named Ray Lewis. Wayne Routledge and myself are both big fans of his.

“He was a great leader of his team Baltimore Ravens, and he’s someone that I definitely look up to in order to see how he leads his team.”

Prior to retiring from American football in 2012, Williams’ hero Lewis spent the entirety of his 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens and is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest ever leaders.

Renowned for his ability to inspire his team-mates, he often spoke about how important it was to keep his emotions in check – something the Swans skipper is keen to implement on his own style.

“He’s one of the greatest leaders in sport, in my opinion,” adds the 30-year-old.

“What I really like about him is that he always tries to see the good in any situation.

“He’s a very positive leader but, at the same time, he makes sure everyone knows what they are doing and where they need to be by being aggressive within his message.”

Williams also has plenty of his own experiences to draw upon when in need of inspiration.

By his own admission, the Wolverhampton-born centre-back has captained every club he has played for, at some point or another.

Shortly after joining Stockport County from non-league outfit Hednesford Town at the tender age of 19, Williams was named captain of the Hatters, while he has skippered Wales – on a permanent basis – since 2012 and Swansea since 2013.

“I’ve seen a lot of things that have probably moulded the leader I am and the person that I am,” acknowledges Williams.

“From a young age, I’ve always felt like a leader and someone that can make decisions. It’s something I’ve always felt comfortable in doing.

“I’ve been through all of the divisions, so I draw from those experiences.

“It’s not something I consciously think about, but when you play with players that have been to work from nine-to-five before going to training, you see that they are tough men.”

Much like Swansea City as a whole, there is a sense of groundedness in Williams’ tone.

Amid the glitz and glamour of a film premiere last weekend – to launch ‘Jack to a King’, a film documenting the rags to relative riches story of the Swans – there are parallels to draw between Swansea and Williams’ rise to the top.

As ‘Jack to a King’ reminded us, it has been a long and incredible journey to the Premier League for the Swans. From being on the verge of going out of business at the bottom of the Football League to achieving the unthinkable in just a single decade.

Similarly, having been released by West Bromwich Albion at the age of 16, Williams has had to rebuild his career.

And it has been a roller-coaster ride for the man who once worked at a theme park, as a waiter at a restaurant and as a petrol station attendant.

“Being captain of a Premier League club as well as Wales is something I’m used to now, but there are times when I do think about the position I’m in,” Williams reflects.

“When I played for Wales against Andorra – a team of players that all worked in normal jobs bar one player – I could relate to that and it made me think about where I have come from.

“For me, it’s important to ensure my team-mates know that we are lucky to be doing what we’re doing.”

After such a promising start to the campaign, it’s crucial that, like Williams, the Swans remain grounded.

But with their captain to guide them, Swans supporters can be assured that Monk’s men will be taking nothing for granted.

Ashley Williams on the gaffer:

Despite now referring to him as “the gaffer”, Ashley Williams reveals his friendship with Swans boss Garry Monk remains unchanged.

After pairing up regularly at the heart of the Swansea defence for over six years, the Swans skipper insists Monk’s transition from team-mate to manager has only had a positive impact on their relationship.

“It’s probably become more professional,” admits the Swans skipper. “We probably speak a lot more than we used to, to be honest.

“We’re still good friends, we still talk about normal things away from football. But we talk a lot more now than we used to about our profession and what we are trying to achieve.

“He leans on me and I lean on him. We probably talk less rubbish these days, but it hasn’t changed anything in terms of our friendship.”

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/ashley-williams/feed/0Ashley Williams at the Liberty StadiumjackwellsukMum’s the word for Kyle Naughtonhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/mums-the-word-for-kyle-naughton/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/mums-the-word-for-kyle-naughton/#respondTue, 03 Feb 2015 14:09:04 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=388Kyle Naughton is living up to the mother of all promises following his rise to the Barclays Premier League.

Having worked his way to the top-flight of English football, the new Swansea City right-back was able to fulfil a pledge he made his mother when he was growing up in Sheffield.

Naughton may have made it to the big time, but he certainly hadn’t forgotten his roots on his way to the top.

“Growing up, it was all my mum,” insists the 26-year-old, who made his Swans debut in the 1-0 victory at Southampton last weekend. “She looked after us all; she did everything.

“My mum would come home from work, tidy up, cook dinner, take me to football, come back, and then take my sister somewhere. She did everything for us. In many ways, I owe it all to my mum, to be fair.

“I think, like most players, when you start earning a reasonable amount of money, you want to help your family – your mum, brothers and sisters.

“When I started at Sheffield United, I bought my mum a house and a car, as well as a car for my sister. The house was a nice semi in Sheffield, and it’s a step up from the house that our family has lived in ever since my mum was little.

“I feel fortunate and grateful to be able to do it for her and it’s nice to give something back, but I think most players try and help out at home, which is all I did.”

Home is certainly where the heart is for Swansea’s new right-back, who points to the image tattooed on his lower torso, a picture of the estate he grew up on in his hometown of Sheffield.

It was the place where he first kicked a ball around with friends, where he has made countless memories and the place where his career in football began.

“I loved every minute of it,” Naughton beams as he reflects on happy memories of his childhood. “I wouldn’t change growing up there for anything. I really enjoyed it.

“I remember playing football with other kids on the estate and through school, pretty much like any other kid. Then one day I got a letter that came through the door inviting me for trials with the then Sheffield United School of Excellence, and that’s where it all started.”

Naughton, who joined the Blades at the age of seven, went on to captain Sheffield United’s academy side before cutting his senior teeth with a loan move to Gretna in the Scottish Premier League.

The now-dissolved club enjoyed a rapid rise to Scotland’s top-flight division but, during Naughton’s season-long stay, were placed into administration.

Despite their troubles, the promising full-back was a regular fixture in the Gretna first-team.

“Bradford first came in to have a look at me to take me on trial but didn’t quite fancy me, which is why I went to Gretna in Scotland,” adds Naughton.

“You could say my time there toughened me up a bit. I was in the reserves at Sheffield United, so it was something you kind of have to do at that age.

“The SPL was a great place to be, with big clubs like Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs there. For me, it wasn’t just about the team I was playing for; it was also about the teams we were playing against.

“My debut was against Rangers, and they got bigger crowds than Sheffield United were getting at the time, so it was a great experience to help me deal with playing in front of big crowds.”

Naughton’s experience in Scotland helped the former England Under-21 international force his way into then-Blades manager Kevin Blackwell’s first-team thoughts upon his return to the club.

At the end of his breakthrough season with the Blades, having cemented his place in Sheffield’s starting eleven, he was voted Young Player of the Year by the United supporters club and was included in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

“I did quite well with Gretna and really enjoyed my time there, despite the off-field problems the club were enduring,” he adds.

“As soon as I came back to Sheffield United, I went into their first-team and managed to get into the Championship Team of the Year at the end of the season. Ever since then, it’s been onwards and upwards.”

Naughton’s impressive performances in the second tier of English football saw Tottenham come calling in 2009 when they signed the Sheffield-born player along with fellow Blades youngster Kyle Walker for a combined fee of £9 million.

The former Blade then enjoyed loan spells back in the Championship with Middlesbrough and Leicester City, where his exciting displays once again earned him recognition in the division’s PFA Team of the Year, before he got his first taste of Premier League football when he moved on loan to Norwich City in 2012.

“I’ve had the opportunity to play in different leagues, and the styles of football are different everywhere you go, especially in Scotland,” says Naughton. “I think that has really helped me.

“I’ve had quite a few loan moves over my career, but I actually played 34 games last season for Spurs, which is a fair amount.

“I’ve played in European football for two seasons with Spurs in the Europa League, which has also been a great experience for me.”

But part of Naughton’s decision to leave the English capital for life in the coastal city of Wales was to try and hold down a regular starting spot at a Premier League club after finding himself in and out of the Spurs side.

And after speaking to former Swans Ben Davies and Michel Vorm prior to leaving London, Naughton was convinced that Swansea was the perfect place for him to settle down.

“They told me that Swansea is a great footballing club and a place where it’s easy to get on with everyone,” reveals Naughton. “It kind of feels like a family.

“They only had good things to say, other than the fact that it can be quite cold and wet in this part of the world. But that’s as bad as it got!

“I think this is one of the best places you can come to settle down and push on. I’ve had quite a few loan moves, so trying to hold down a regular place is one of the reasons why I came here.

“When you look at Swansea you see how others have thrived at the club. Wayne (Routledge) had been to quite a few clubs like myself but has been able to really push on with his career here.

“The same with Nathan. He had gone on a few loans and came to us (at Sheffield United) and wasn’t playing at first, but as soon as he did you could see he was some player.”

Family comes first for Kyle, as shown by his generosity in looking after his mum and sister following his successful career path to the Premier League, so it was no surprise that he felt right at home on his first morning at the club’s Fairwood Training Ground.

“As soon as I walked in that morning, I could see for myself that the club had a real family-feel to it. I had a really warm welcome.

“I think it helped that I knew the likes of Nathan, Tom Carroll and Siggy (Sigurdsson), who I have all played with before. I’ve settled in now.”

But before Naughton could feel completely at ease in his new surroundings, he had to get his ‘initiation’ out of the way – something every new Swansea City player has to endure on their first away trip with the club.

And despite playing in front of over 40,000 people at Ibrox on his senior debut as a 19-year-old, the nerves he felt that day didn’t compare to those he felt when he stood up to sing in front of his team-mates.

“I felt more nervous about it than going out to play a big game,” Naughton laughs. “It’s quite scary standing there in front of everyone, but I went with a Biggy Smalls track in the end.

“I think it went down quite well; I didn’t get too much stick. I got a few words wrong, and a few of the lads shouted a bit of stick, but it was fine.”

Naughton followed up his vocal performance with a promising debut at St. Mary’s last weekend, playing his part in Swansea’s ninth clean sheet of the season. And if he continues to impress in a Swans shirt, it won’t be long until the Jack Army are the ones singing his praises.

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/mums-the-word-for-kyle-naughton/feed/0Kyle Naughton Signs for Swansea City FC from Spursjackwellsukhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/385/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/385/#respondThu, 15 Jan 2015 15:24:03 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=385Swansea’s new boy Nelson Oliveira speaks to Jack Magazine about watching the Swans win the League Cup, playing with Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, and why he’s already feeling at home in South Wales.

As Ashley Williams and Garry Monk lifted aloft the Capital One Cup in 2013 after the Swans dismantled Bradford City 5-0 at Wembley, the eyes of the football world were firmly focused on Swansea City.

Among those keen observers was Nelson Oliveira – the Portuguese international plying his trade on loan at Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna – who was taking an avid interest in Swansea’s moment in the spotlight.

“I love the way Swansea play; they caught my eye before I came here,” reveals Oliveira as he sits down for an exclusive interview with Jack Magazine.

“Not only the way they have played this season, but I remember watching Swansea win the League Cup two seasons ago.

“The rise of the club has been incredible, which made their success even more interesting and made me curious.

“The style of football is different to a lot of other clubs in the Premier League, so I started to follow them.”

Like Swansea’s meteoric rise from the doldrums of the Football League’s basement division to the top flight of English football, Oliveira has enjoyed rapid success of his own.

After helping Portugal reach the final of the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, where he was awarded the Silver Ball for proving himself as the tournament’s second best player, Oliveira lined up alongside the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo to help the senior national side reach the semi-finals of the 2012 UEFA European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

His first senior goal for his country swiftly followed the Euros when he scored in Portugal’s 2-0 friendly victory over Panama, before Oliveira was rewarded for his on-field success when he received the Best Newcomer accolade at Portugal’s annual Golden Globes ceremony in 2012.

“It was a very happy period of my career so far,” says Oliveira, who has gained 14 senior caps for Portugal to date.

“It was great to be thought of as one of the best players at the Under-20 World Cup, which, as a consequence, helped me play for the national team at the European Championships in 2012.

“They were happy years, and it was fantastic to receive that award for best newcomer.

“It’s good because I have learnt a lot from these experiences, and I’ve played with some great players already in my career.

“It’s very important because playing with top class players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Pablo Aimar, Joao Moutinho – big players – helps you improve.

“I’ve learned a lot from playing and training with these players every day, from the way they move on the pitch to their touch and the pace they play at. I’m lucky to have had these experiences.”

Born in Barcelos – a city and municipality in the Braga district of northern Portugal – Oliveira was always destined for the top.

From a young age, the now 23-year-old has been regarded as one of Portugal’s finest prospects since his early teens.

At the age of eight, his grandfather and father took him to play for Santa Maria, a small club in the city of Barcelos, where his exceptional ability was spotted by Portuguese big-hitters Braga when he was 12.

Within just a few years, word of Oliveira’s potential had spread, with top clubs in Portugal and Europe jockeying for his signature. He opted for Benfica, where his progress continued at youth level, as well as with Portugal’s youth sides, where he has played at every level from Under-16s onwards.

And after sealing a move to South Wales earlier this month, Oliveira has now featured in the Barclays Premier League, to go along with his experiences in La Liga, Ligue 1 and Liga Portuguesa.

“The Premier League is the league I watched the most back home,” insists Oliveira. “I used to love watching Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp play when they were at Arsenal. I used to watch every game they played in.

“They were both world class players. Their movement and intelligence on the ball was amazing.

“I feel ready for the Premier League. Swansea is the right club for me and the style of play suits me.

“I can promise the supporters that I will work really hard to help my team-mates and the club during my time here.”

And it might be the wettest city in Britain – a far cry from the warmth of his home city – but Oliveira is already feeling at home in Swansea, having made his debut in the 1-1 draw at home to West Ham last weekend.

“The city is very nice. It is not very big but, like the club, it’s like a big family, where people are happy to come and talk to you.

“Barcelos, where I grew up, is also a small city. It’s not by the sea and it’s colder here, but it reminds me of Swansea because it is small but very family orientated.

“I am settling in very well. I’ve spoken with a few of my team-mates from Benfica who wanted to congratulate me on my debut last weekend. I told them that I am loving it here and that I’ve been made to feel very welcome.

“I’m looking forward to helping the club in the coming months.”

No doubt Oliveira will be hoping he can lend a helping hand from the off, starting with this afternoon’s clash with league leaders Chelsea, where he could face some familiar faces in SA1.

“I am looking forward to playing against Chelsea,” he adds. “They are a really good team, and they have players there that I know from Benfica in Ramires and Nemanja Matic.

“I also played with Oscar at the U20 World Cup. I won’t speak to them before the game, but maybe after. I’m just concentrating on Swansea.”

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/385/feed/0Nélson Oliveirajackwellsuk“This is the best team I’ve played in,” says Brittonhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/this-is-the-best-team-ive-played-in-says-britton/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/this-is-the-best-team-ive-played-in-says-britton/#respondThu, 15 Jan 2015 15:20:00 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=382Swansea’s midfield pass-master Leon Britton shares his thoughts with Jack Magazine on why he believes the current Swans side is the best he’s played in, while reflecting on just how much has changed at the club since his debut at Exeter City in December 2002.

“Not a lot has changed,” Leon Britton jests as he reflects upon his debut at Exeter City on a cold Winter’s afternoon in 2002 and compares it with the situation he and Swansea City find themselves in 2015.

The Swans head into the New Year sitting proudly in the top half of the Barclays Premier League, having enjoyed their best first half of a season since the club’s promotion to English football’s top flight in 2011.

Victories over the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have been accompanied by some stunning football displayed by Garry Monk’s side so far this campaign as they combine the stylish attacking play, which has become synonymous with the club, with a steely resilience that has made the Liberty Stadium a fortress to be reckoned with once again.

“This is the best team I’ve played in,” declares Britton as he sits down to speak to Jack Magazine at Swansea’s Fairwood Training Ground.

“I think I’ve said that every season since we were promoted to the Premier League, but we seem to improve year on year.

“Again, this season we’ve brought in some really good players and improved the squad. We have a lot of quality, but I think the difference this year from the past season or two is that we’ve tightened up defensively.

“When the manager came in, straight away he worked a lot on the team’s shape and to make sure that everyone knew their job when we were without the ball. I think we’ve seen the benefits of that.”

Certainly the hard-fought win at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season and other such victories represent a far cry from that December afternoon at St. James’ Park when Britton lined up for the Swans for the very first time as a teenager on loan from today’s opponents West Ham.

“At the time we were bottom of League Two,” says Britton, who has now made well over 400 league appearances for the Swans. “You would never have dreamed that we would be sitting ninth in the Premier League just over 12 years on. And even if you did, you probably wouldn’t dream that you’d still be a part of it all now.

“But I was just happy to play that day. Being in the reserves at West Ham, I just wanted to go out and get some games.

“I remember going up against two experienced midfielders in Kwame Ampadu and Martin Thomas – both ex Swans. We lost the game 1-0 but I really enjoyed it.

“It’s a game that I will remember and look back upon fondly when I finish my career.”

They wouldn’t have known it at the time but, in hindsight, the defeat to the Grecians proved a momentous day for both club and player as it marked the beginning of the love affair between Britton and the Swans.

The fairtytale story of their intertwining journey from the doldrums of the Football League’s basement division to the glitz and glamour of the Barclays Premier League has been well documented.

Over the course of 12 years, Britton has witnessed plenty of change from that significant day in December – in just about every aspect.

“From the facilities to the stadium to the teams we played against to the players we have now, you wouldn’t have ever dreamed that things could change so much.

“With all due respect to the players I played with back then – all good and honest lads – we are talking about international players at Swansea now, top quality players in the Premier League.

“It’s a world apart from my first game for the Swans. But I enjoyed it just as much then as I do now. It was a great group of lads back then, and we have a great group of lads now.”

As Britton touched on, Swansea’s impressive form this season, especially at home in SA1, has been greatly helped by a sturdy defence.

The Swans have kept eight clean sheets in the league so far this season, which Britton believes is down to the hard work that has taken place at the training ground.

“We aren’t conceding as many goals, while at the other end we’re scoring a lot,” adds Britton. “We’ve worked hard on the defence and we’re keeping clean sheets because of that.

“Obviously the manager was a defender, so he prides himself on clean sheets, which is what he wants from the team.

“He pays a lot of attention to detail. He and the coaching staff do a lot of work looking at the opposition, giving us ideas of what we need to do to prepare us for the game on the weekend.

“They’re very detailed in what they do, not just before the games but after games too. We’ll go over videos, look at what we’ve done well and what we can do better. It’s always about trying to improve.”

And the Swans will have to make sure they are once again defensively sound if they want to kick-off 2015 at the Liberty Stadium in winning fashion.

Like Swansea, this afternoon’s opponents West Ham have enjoyed a positive first half of the campaign as they sit in seventh-place in the Premier League.

Back in December, Monk’s men were on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat to Sam Allardyce’s side after a brace from Andy Carroll plus a goal from Diafra Sakho overturned Bony’s opener at the Boleyn Ground.

For Britton, today’s game represents another opportunity to face his former side, whom he joined as a youth player from Arsenal in 1998.

And despite leaving the Hammers for Swansea having not made a single senior appearance for the club, Britton has fond memories from his time in East London.

“I enjoyed my time at West Ham,” says Britton. “I spent four years there and left school and decided to sign for them.

“Obviously it didn’t work out for me, which was disappointing, but I remember my time there fondly.

“It’s a good club – a family club – and they have a great tradition of bringing young players through, especially around that time with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick and many others coming through.

“I have no regrets about my time there – I enjoyed it.”

SIDE PANEL

Britton on working in the media

Unfortunately for Britton, a knee injury in pre-season kept him sidelined for the first few months of Swansea’s fourth year in the Premier League, before raucous reception from the Swansea faithful greeted the diminutive midfielder upon his return to action against Arsenal in November.

But while his injury layoff left him frustrated, it did allow the 32-year-old time to consider life after football.

During his absence from the pitch, the 32-year-old switched to the studio and the stands to talk about and provide insight on the beautiful game.

“It was the longest period I’ve been out in my career through injury and it was a difficult time,” admits Britton. “I just tried to keep myself busy and, at the age I am now, I know football can’t go on forever, so I need to think about different avenues for when I finish.

“The media side of things is something I like doing – I’ve done a few things with the club, with the BBC and with Sky. It was a good experience and I really enjoyed it, so it’s something I’d like to do more of if I get the chance.”

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/this-is-the-best-team-ive-played-in-says-britton/feed/0Swansea City FC official squad shoot at the Liberty Stadium, south Wales, UKjackwellsukFrom back to front – how Wilfried Bony became Swansea’s hot shothttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/from-back-to-front-how-wilfried-bony-became-swanseas-hot-shot/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/from-back-to-front-how-wilfried-bony-became-swanseas-hot-shot/#respondThu, 18 Dec 2014 15:17:02 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=376Swansea’s goal machine Wilfried Bony speaks to Jack Magazine about starting his career as a centre-back, how he first found his shooting boots, and tormenting defenders with his sheer strength.

Judging by his goalscoring record, few would have imagined that Wilfried Bony began his football career as a defender. But that’s how it all started for the man who is set to finish the calendar year as the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer.

With 20 goals in 2014, the Ivory Coast international leads the way ahead of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Wayne Rooney in the top-flight scoring charts.

But had it not been for some wise words from a coach during his time with the academy of Cyrille Domoraud – the ex-Ivory Coast defender who played for Inter and AC Milan – in his hometown of Bingerville, Bony may have never found his shooting boots.

“I started off as a defender, but I became a striker when I was 14, I think,” explains Bony as he sits down at Swansea’s training ground to speak to Jack Magazine.

“One of our forwards got injured so I had to go up front. In my first game I scored straight away and they asked me to stay there. They said: ‘you’re not a stopper anymore’.”

His goalscoring exploits earned him his first professional contract in 2006, aged 17, when he joined Issia Wazi in the Ivory Coast, before he moved to Europe to join Czech Republic side Sparta Prague.

During his time in Prague he scored 22 goals in 59 games before signing for Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem in 2011, where in two years he scored a sensational 51 in 69.

But it hasn’t always been glitz and goals for the free-scoring striker who cost the Swans £12 million in the summer of 2013.

“I started playing football when I was very young – only two or three-years-old,” says Bony. “I would play without shoes, but it would hurt my feet so my mum bought me some boots, black boots.

“My parents both had jobs. They were not very poor but not rich either.

“I used to play with my family or with my friends in the city streets, before joining the academy in Ivory Coast, run by Cyrille Domoraud.”

But had it been up to his father, a teacher, Bony would have been concentrating on his studies rather than his football.

“Most of the time it was nice growing up in the Ivory Coast,” adds the 26-year-old target man. “I was in school, but I argued a little bit with my father for almost three years.

“He wanted me to go to school, but I was focused on football. He would say to me: ‘go to school and after that you can play. There are other people, like doctors, who play football’.

“But I just wanted to play football; it was what I wanted to do, so we argued.

“But when I left Ivory Coast for Europe, everything became much easier and he is very happy now.”

And for Bony in general, life is good in SA1. Not only has he recently signed a contract extension with the Swans, scoring goals and is on top of his game, but his family have also joined him in South Wales.

“I’m really happy here, with the fans and everything,” he says. “We have been playing good football this season so, for me, it is very enjoyable to play in this team.

“My family is here now, which makes things easier for me. It will be nice to have my family around for Christmas.”

Bony’s eldest son, Jeffrey, is also a keen footballer and a spitting image of his father.

“He trains with Swansea Academy. He plays a lot like me, strong on the ball and likes to hold defenders off,” laughs Bony.

That ‘Bony hold-off’ has become the powerhouse forward’s trademark, much like Johan Cruyff’s ‘Cruyff turn’ and Ronaldinho’s ‘flip-flap’.

Displaying his immense strength by holding defenders at bay with a single outstretched arm is, in addition to his impressive scoring rate, what Bony has become best known for.

With his back to goal, the big man – all 91kg (14st 3lb) of him – holds off his marker for as long as he feels necessary, ensuring his opponent has no chance of winning possession without fouling him.

“Sometimes it’s funny to do that,” Bony chuckles. “It shows the defender that I am winning the battle mentally and physically.

“But the most important thing is to help the team first and foremost, so it depends on the score.

“Every game is different, so I think about it and if I get the opportunity, I try to do it because the fans enjoy seeing it. I like to do tricks and things like that to make the crowd happy.”

So how has Bony developed such sheer strength – the tree trunk-like thighs, bulging chest and muscle-bound physique? Hours and hours in the gym, right? Wrong.

“You can ask Jonny Northeast (sports scientist), I don’t like the gym,” Bony insists. “It’s good for your fitness, but I am naturally strong. I don’t do weights.

“I do what I need to do, but then I’m done. My mother was a black belt in judo, so maybe I get my strength from her. But I’ve never been one for the gym.”

The Swans will certainly miss the talismanic striker when he heads to Equatorial Guinea in January as part of the Ivory Coast squad competing in the African Cup of Nations.

It’s another opportunity for Bony to show what he does best on the international front, but he will be cheering on his Swansea team-mates from afar.

“When I’m away, I will be ringing the players here to see how they are getting on. If they are available, I will be watching the games on the Internet, that’s for sure,” he added.

“I am looking forward to the tournament. Hopefully I can help my country enjoy success, but first I will be concentrating on Swansea until I go.

“We have a few games before I leave, and I will be doing everything I can to help the team get as many points as possible.”

Swans fans will be hoping that Bony can continue 2015 as he finishes 2014 – firing on all cylinders.

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/from-back-to-front-how-wilfried-bony-became-swanseas-hot-shot/feed/0Swansea City footballer Wilfried Bony at the club's training ground in Fairwood, Swansea, south WalesjackwellsukSwansea’s King of Assists goes the extra milehttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/swanseas-king-of-assists-goes-the-extra-mile/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/swanseas-king-of-assists-goes-the-extra-mile/#respondFri, 05 Dec 2014 14:56:03 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=370Swansea’s King of Assists Gylfi Sigurdsson speaks to Jack Magazine about mileage on the pitch, meeting McIlroy and his stunning start to life back in South Wales.

NOBODY questions the King. So when Gylfi Sigurdsson asks you to throw some stats his way, you do so.

With eight assists, the Icelandic midfielder, whose forename aptly means ‘King’ in Nordic, is perched comfortably on his throne when it comes to goals created at the Liberty this season.

Second only to World Cup-winning Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas for his number of assists in the Premier League this campaign, Sigurdsson’s average of 2.6 key passes per game marks him as one of the most creative players in the English top flight.

But for those that watch the King of Assists in action on a regular basis, the aforementioned statistics will make for unsurprising reading.

What might be unforeseen, however, could well be Sigurdsson’s crowning glory.

But only Burnley’s George Boyd has covered more ground than the hardworking Icelander in a single match this season, while Sigurdsson’s mileage against Manchester United (8.19 miles) and Burnley (8.1 miles) clocks up in second and third respectively for distance covered by a top-flight player in a single game.

“I think our fitness and work rate is down to the way we train, the sports science team, the physios and the masseurs who keep us fit and 100 per cent ready for the game on the weekend,” credits the typically modest Sigurdsson as he sits down to talk to Jack Magazine.

“I think I’ve always covered a lot of ground, but it can sometimes depend on the type of game you’re playing in.

“For example, against Manchester United, we were holding on to the lead for about 20 minutes, so you need to work hard to defend. In other games, you might not run so much when you’re in possession.

“But pressing is a part of how we play, it’s always been that way at Swansea. Our defence starts as far up the pitch as possible, so it’s up to Wilfried, or whoever is playing up front, and me to press high up to try and win the ball back or to force the opposition into making a mistake.”

Pardon the pun, but Sigurdsson has hit the ground running following his return to South Wales this summer. The stats prove that.

But having impressed during a loan stint with the club in 2012, when he scored seven goals in 17 appearances for the Swans, the talented midfielder’s impressive start comes as little surprise to those who know him best.

Some would argue that part of the reason for his emphatic start to 2014-15 is because in Swansea, he feels at home.

“I guess you could say that,” acknowledges Sigurdsson, who was born in Hafnarfjörður, the port town located just south of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.

“It’s a lot quieter than London, that’s for sure. Population-wise, Swansea is similar to Iceland, but the scenery is totally different.

“The people here are very friendly. They tend to approach you a little more than in Iceland and will ask you for an autograph or a picture.

“Sometimes they will say something like ‘you have to score because I need points for my dream team’, which is funny. But I like that, I’m happy for people to come and say hello.”

The open approach of British football fans is something that Sigurdsson has grown accustomed to over the years, having moved to England with his parents at the tender age of 15.

The midfielder signed for Reading on an Academy scholarship in October 2005 and, but for a two-year spell in Germany with Hoffenheim, has played on these shores ever since.

“Coming from Iceland, you want to go abroad and play football 12 months a year on grass, that’s what you dream of,” admits Sigurdsson. “From the age of about ten, that was always my goal.

“The Premier League is number one in Iceland. Everyone has an English team they support.

“I grew up just outside the capital, so it was pretty much a normal town.

“For four months of the year we played on grass. We had full-size indoor artificial pitches and plastic pitches we used for the rest of the year. We also played in the snow.

“My father and my brother started teaching me football when I was younger. My dad used to play football in Sweden – in the first division I think. He was quite handy and had a very good left foot.”

Sporting talent is in the Sigurdsson family genes. Gylfi’s brother, Olaf, was also a promising footballer before turning professional in golf.

And although Sigurdsson was kicking a football ever since he could walk, golf has always been his other love.

With that in mind, you can imagine his excitement when he spotted World No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy wandering through the Old Trafford tunnel on the opening day of the season.

“Meeting him was good because he’s the best in the world in his sport,” says Sigurdsson. “I didn’t even realise he was at the game, but he was running past so I asked if I could have a picture.”

McIlroy, who was parading the Claret Jug in Manchester after winning The Open Championship, duly obliged to pose for a photo, despite it being with the player who had just scored the winning goal against the team he supports.

“He didn’t seem to mind,” Sigurdsson says, smiling. “He said ‘all the best’, and that was that. As a golfer myself, it was nice to meet him.

“If I wasn’t a footballer, I would’ve loved to have been a professional golfer too.

“There’s a lot of really good courses in Iceland, but they’re very different from the courses in America or over here.

“You haven’t got the big trees and things like that. Instead, for example, one of the courses in my town has lava – obviously very old – so it is like big rocks on the front nine and the ocean on the back nine.

“My brother also played football for a long time, but he came to a point where he needed to make a choice between football and golf, because golf takes so much time to practice.

“It’s always very competitive when we play each other now because I just want to beat him. My handicap is down to four or five, so I’m still trying to catch up!”

And if Sigurdsson had proved as competent in golf as he is in football, he may have been competing against McIlroy at this year’s Open, let alone against his brother.

Instead, he will line up against his former club Tottenham Hotspur at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

“Of course it’s going to be strange playing against my old team-mates, but I’m just concentrating on helping Swansea,” insists Sigurdsson, whose expression quickly changes to a focused demeanour.

“Every game is important – you don’t think so much about who you’re playing against. You want to do well for the team and get the three points.

“It’s really easy to play in this team when we are playing well, and I’m enjoying playing with Wilfried – he’s a very intelligent player.

“I don’t know how he feels but, for me, it’s very easy to play with him. He’s fantastic at holding the ball up, so I just have to make sure I make good runs off him and make sure I’m available for him to pass to.

“Then, when I’m in possession, his movement is always very good and he times his runs very well. It’s then down to me to slide the ball in for him.”

And if past form is anything to go by, let’s hope the King of Assists can provide royal service for his attacking partner once again today.

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/swanseas-king-of-assists-goes-the-extra-mile/feed/0Swansea City FC player at the Liberty Stadium, south WalesjackwellsukCarroll hoping to take his chancehttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/carroll-hoping-to-take-his-chance/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/carroll-hoping-to-take-his-chance/#respondThu, 27 Nov 2014 11:14:35 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=366Swansea’s on-loan midfielder Tom Carroll speaks to Jack Magazine about hype, adapting to life in South Wales and taking his chance to prove he has it takes to compete in the Premier League.

For a player likened to football superstars Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric, Tom Carroll – perhaps remarkably – has his feet planted firmly on the ground.

With so much expectation thrust upon his young shoulders, the 22-year-old could be forgiven for letting the hype go to his head or, at the other end of the spectrum, buckling under the pressure. But that couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Carroll.

“It’s just talk really,” Carroll says as he sits down for an exclusive chat with Jack Magazine. “Like everyone else, I’ve got to go out there and prove that I’m a good player.

“It’s always nice to get praise from people who have done well in the game – people like Tim Sherwood, who’s been superb with me and helped my career – but they’re just labels. I have to prove myself.”

From an early age, the softly-spoken Carroll has been held in high regard by his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.

His former boss Sherwood is a known admirer of his, once stating that Carroll could play for Barcelona “no question”, while another former manager in Harry Redknapp said: “Tom is only a slip of a lad but a fantastic footballer, he really knows how to play the game.”

What Carroll lacks in size, he makes up for in talent, as he displayed in recent clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City, when he went toe-to-toe with some of the Premier League’s best midfielders in Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Yaya Toure and Fernandinho.

“The big thing here is being comfortable on the ball,” Carroll adds. “If you’re not, you’ll look out of place. I don’t see any problem with my size; I don’t think it will hinder me at all.

“I came here to gain experience of playing in the Premier League, and I’ve got to take my chance. Hopefully I’ve shown in recent games that I’m capable of playing at this level.”

On paper, Swansea and Carroll appear a match made in heaven. In the likes of Leon Britton and Joe Allen, the Swans have a history of small, technical midfielders, who are brave on the ball in tight areas and possess the ability to pull the strings at the heart of midfield. Carroll falls squarely into that bracket.

“Leon Britton, who is a legend at the club, and Joe Allen are both great players,” acknowledges the promising England Under-21 captain.

“It’s great to play and train with Leon. He retains the ball so well and rarely gives away possession. We’re slightly different players, but I can learn a lot from him.

“The style of football the club plays, as a whole, was a big attraction for me. Swansea have been up there with the best footballing teams in the league over recent seasons.

“As soon as I knew the club were interested, it was a no brainer for me.

“I also knew Gylfi from Spurs, so I was looking forward to linking back up with him, and also Jonjo, who I’ve played with for England Under-21s. I know the quality they both have, so it was nice to know that they would both be here too.

But having made the temporary switch from the glitz and glamour of London to the coastal city in South Wales this summer, life in Carroll’s new surroundings was, at first, a bit of a culture shock.

“It was a bit of a surprise when I first arrived at the training ground at Fairwood and I had to wait for a horse to cross the road before driving in,” laughs Carroll.

“It’s very different to London, but I’ve settled in well now. It’s a completely different life.

“Off the pitch, it’s a calmer place than what I’m used to but, on the pitch, I’m really enjoying my football, so fingers crossed I can continue to play well for the rest of the season.”

Born in Watford, Carroll has lived the majority of his life in-and-around the English capital, but for a brief spell on loan at Derby County in 2012 and his current season-long stint with the Swans.

The diminutive midfielder has been a Tottenham player ever since the club first scouted him at the age of seven, while he has also had loan spells with fellow London-based clubs Leyton Orient and this afternoon’s opponents Queens Park Rangers.

Carroll reunited with former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp during the summer of 2013 and helped the Hoops win promotion back to the Premier League last season.

But despite looking forward to seeing some familiar faces today, including that of his former manager, Carroll’s main focus is on ensuring the Swans secure three points.

“I enjoyed my time with QPR last year,” adds Carroll. “There were a few ups and downs along the way, but winning promotion with them was a good experience.

“Harry has always been good to me, so it was nice to link back up with him. He gave me my debut at Spurs and, obviously, the chance to join him again at QPR. Getting games was key for me, and I’ve enjoyed working under him.

“He’s a great man manager who has done really well throughout his career. Wherever he has been, he has done a good job.

“I hope he can keep QPR in the Premier League this season, but hopefully this afternoon he will go home disappointed.”

]]>https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/carroll-hoping-to-take-his-chance/feed/0atn_191014_stoke_v_swansea_09jackwellsuk“I’ve matured a lot here,” says new father Nathanhttps://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/ive-matured-a-lot-here-says-new-father-nathan/
https://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/2014/11/15/ive-matured-a-lot-here-says-new-father-nathan/#respondSat, 15 Nov 2014 11:11:14 +0000http://jackwellsuk.wordpress.com/?p=361Swansea’s flying winger Nathan Dyer speaks to Jack Magazine about fatherhood, making over 100 appearances in the Premier League and growing up on and off the field during the past five years as a Swans player.

FOR a man small in stature, Nathan Dyer feels he has done a lot of growing up during his five years with the Swans.

Having got married to his wife Laura in the summer of 2013, the 26-year-old winger has recently become a father to newborn son, Shea, and has exceeded 100 appearances in the Premier League.

In the space of a relatively short period of time, Dyer has packed in a lot of life changing experiences, both on and off the pitch.

“I’ve matured a lot here as a player and as a person,” admits the diminutive winger as he sits down for an exclusive interview with Jack Magazine.

“Becoming a dad has been amazing. It really is the best feeling ever and it puts a lot of things into perspective.

“To go home after a game – win, lose or draw – and have your family there is really nice.

“Swansea has really helped me develop as a player. And I’m still only 26, so I still feel like I can improve a lot.

“While, as a team, we’ve been going from strength to strength in the time I’ve been here.”

From an early age, Dyer was always destined for a career in sport. His mother Jenny was a strong amateur sprinter while his father Jonah played cricket.

Dyer, however, opted to play football and was spotted at the age of eight by Southampton scout Rod Ruddick, who was also responsible for unearthing the talent of a certain Gareth Bale.

Along with Arsenal star Theo Walcott, Dyer and Bale went on to become part of the supremely talented crop of Saints youngsters that reached the FA Youth Cup final in 2005.

All three of which, among others, have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the professional game, but as Dyer prepares to make what would be his 110th Premier League appearance, he still can’t quite believe how far he has come.

“When I started my career I didn’t imagine I’d play over 100 games in the Premier League,” the Trowbridge-born wide man, who initially joined the club on loan in 2009, humbly admits.

“It’s the level you always aspire to, and when I started off in the Championship I always felt I could play in the Premier League, but it’s about getting that chance.

“Swansea has been a great club to me. Since I arrived here we’ve been making strides forward and eventually managed to win promotion to the Premier League, and I can’t think of a better club to do that with.

“We’re living the dream. Every time we start a season, people predict that we might get relegated, but we know what we can do and we keep on proving people wrong.”

From beating Manchester United at Old Trafford to winning the Capital One Cup, the Swans have achieved many great feats few would have predicted just a few years ago.

But one particular fixture stands out in Dyer’s memory.

“There have been some great memories in recent years,” he reflects. “We’re always looking to further establish ourselves as a Premier League club, but I think I will always remember the 3-2 win over Arsenal as a defining moment.

“On a personal level, it’s memorable because I scored in the win. But for us as a team, I think it showed people that we were here and that we could play football and compete with the best.”

The Swans continue to defy the odds in the Premier League. But the glitz and glamour of the English top flight is a far cry from the day Dyer made his Swansea debut.

In front of a meagre crowd of 2,821 spectators, the Swans paid a visit to non-league outfit Histon in the FA Cup, where they were made to grind out a 2-1 victory over their Conference opponents on a pitch the consistency of a Fenland field.

“It was horrible conditions,” Dyer laughs when thinking back to that day. “The pitch was boggy and not really suited to our style of play.

“I remember being sat on the bench when Roberto Martinez asked me to start warming up.

“I recall thinking at the time that the conditions were terrible, but I came on and did OK. It wasn’t the best of games, but we won 2-1 and that’s where it all started for me.

“It’s a different world to where we are now. In games like those in the lower leagues it’s very physical, but in the Premier League you’ve got to be smarter.

“The best teams are always two steps ahead of everyone else, and we’ve had to get ourselves into that mindset to compete at this level.”

And so far this season, the Swans have had no trouble competing. As they head into this afternoon’s fixture in seventh position in the league table after 12 games played, Monk’s men have enjoyed their best ever start to a Premier League season.

“It’s been good,” admits Dyer with a smile. “We’ve got off to a great start. The team is playing really well at the moment, and it’s been good for me on a personal level too because I’ve scored some goals to help the team.

“We’re flying at the moment. Everything is coming together – the training ground is getting further developed, we’re attracting top players who want to come and play for us, and we’re continuing to move forward.

“Hopefully we can continue to reach heights we perhaps never thought we would reach.”

And if the past five years are anything to go by, who is to say that both the Swans and Dyer can’t continue to grow?